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Jiu Jitsu Therapy

5 ★★★★★ 33 Google reviews · BJJ gym in Watsonville, California

BJJ gym Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens No-gi Competition team

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth BJJ classes (ages 16) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Women's classes dedicated women's BJJ classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
  • No-gi no-gi grappling classes — training in a rashguard and shorts, with faster scrambles and a natural bridge to MMA
  • Competition team a competition team for members who want to test themselves at tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule jitstherapy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (831) 888-7616

Hours

Monday 9:30 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 9:30 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 9:30 AM–8 PM
Thursday 9:30 AM–8 PM
Friday 9:30 AM–8 PM
Saturday 10 AM–2 PM
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

BJJ classes on the schedule at Jiu Jitsu Therapy, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

📘 Fundamentals 4 mentions

“My professor, Raul Quintero, was very easy to talk to & I was able to understand proper and improper technique based off his demonstrations.”

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🧒 Kids BJJ 12 mentions

“My 8 year old son has grown so much and Raul has traveled to LA for and many other tournaments to coach my son who competes all year long.”

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🏆 Competition Team 3 mentions

“My 8 year old son has grown so much and Raul has traveled to LA for and many other tournaments to coach my son who competes all year long.”

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🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“The school is only good vibes, and I strongly recommend Jiu Jitsu Therapy for anyone looking to get mentally and physically strong while learning selfdefense.”

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🌱 Beginners

“This is a great school for all levels.”

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Other martial arts here

BJJ gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at Jiu Jitsu Therapy — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want MMA, muay thai, or wrestling alongside your BJJ, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 33 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, high-level coaching 6 mentions

“The head instructor Raul Quintero is very knowledgeable and has a great teaching method.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 4 mentions

“Cannot thank Raul and his wife and everyone at Jiu-jitsu Therapy for welcoming me with open arms despite my cross training here and Ares HQ (Modesto).”

🤝 no-ego, friendly academy 8 mentions

“Cannot thank Raul and his wife and everyone at Jiu-jitsu Therapy for welcoming me with open arms despite my cross training here and Ares HQ (Modesto).”

📘 strong technique & fundamentals 4 mentions

“My professor, Raul Quintero, was very easy to talk to & I was able to understand proper and improper technique based off his demonstrations.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“It has been great watching my kids learn, build respect and confidence.”

active competition team 4 mentions

“My 8 year old son has grown so much and Raul has traveled to LA for and many other tournaments to coach my son who competes all year long.”

From the reviews

The adult class was great! I had fun & learned a lot in just one session. My professor, Raul Quintero, was very easy to talk to & I was able to understand proper and improper technique based off his demonstrations. The gym is very clean & organized, and the people were very welcoming.

★★★★★ — Eazy, Mar 2021

Amazing place and coaches! It has been great watching my kids learn, build respect and confidence.

★★★★★ — Zachary, May 2020

Since moving back home (Salinas) from the valley (Modesto), I have been welcomed with open arms by everyone, especially Professor Raul Quintero, and have been training here since August 2020. Nothing but great things to say about this place.

★★★★★ — Eduardo, Mar 2021

Love this place!! You will not be disappointed. Raul is great with my 7 year old duaghter. He explains and demonstrates things in a way that is easy for her to understand and apply. He's so patient and really cares about each student.

★★★★★ — Dolores, Nov 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 33 reviews →

New to BJJ? Start at Jiu Jitsu Therapy

Jiu Jitsu Therapy comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never rolled or set foot on a mat, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard rolling — reputable gyms build fundamentals (positions, escapes, and basic submissions) for weeks, live rolling eases in gradually, and tapping early keeps every roll safe. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out, and leave your ego at the door. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first BJJ class at Jiu Jitsu Therapy

Nervous about walking into a BJJ gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic positions and escapes with a partner — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and a mouthguard if you have one — many gyms lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) and a mouthguard. Live rolling eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

BJJ is a contact sport. Ease in, tap early and often, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Jiu Jitsu Therapy

25 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA95076

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.